In December 2013, the presidents of Russian Federation and Ukraine, Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych, agreed that Moscow would grant Kiev a credit worth $15 bln through the placement of Ukrainian securities. It is not ruled out that the IMF may play up to Ukraine and render it financial assistance after Kiev’s possible default is declared, although the Fund’s rules prohibit lending to countries with the unrepaid external debt. “We remember the Orange Revolution”, he continued, recalling the country’s 2004 uprising that ended in disappointment when authorities failed to pass reforms. Biden also mentioned his frequent communication on a weekly basis, both with the Ukrainian Prime Minister and President.
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Key U.S. officials say that during his visit, Biden will seek to reassure Kyiv that Washington will continue an array of economic sanctions against Russian Federation, until Moscow and its Ukrainian rebel allies fully meet their obligation under the Minsk agreement to end the conflict and pull back heavy weapons. It should be recalled that during his speech at the Brookings Institution at the end of May, 2015, Biden particularly emphasised Ukraine needs to use newly introduced laws and policies to investigate and prosecute corruption on all levels in order for its reforms to succeed. And Russia, recognized by the International Monetary Fund as an official lender, does not agree on such writing-off and suggested the International Monetary Fund and other Ukrainian friends to restructure the loan under their guarantees.
“The most important things is to fight corruption”.
He said the new aid package will help Ukraine implement reforms and fight “the cancer of corruption”. “Oligarchs should not be able to influence court and judges… corruption siphons resources from the people and from the economy and you know it”.
The Nov. 13 Paris attacks further prompted French President Francois Hollande to try to enrol Russian Federation in a “grand coalition” against IS including the USA and some European and Arab states.
On Monday, Biden announced $190 million in new USA aid to Ukraine. “Ukraine can not afford for the people to lose hope again”.
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Biden’s visit is his fourth to Kiev since Russia’s troops overran Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula in March 2014 and then watched with approval as pro-Kremlin insurgents carved out their own region in the eastern industrial heartland of the ex-Soviet state.
